Am i biting off more than i can chew?

[DonJuanMair]

So I met with the bride and groom yesterday to discuss shooting their wedding. We talked and she's super organized, she has a list of not to miss shots for me and then I asked how many guests. She said 150! The shooting will start at noon and end at 10pm. The thing is this is my first real wedding, so I kind of think its a bit much for my first wedding, does anyone agree?
Id prefer not to do it if so and them get a more experienced photographer

[viet]

Your first wedding and you get a "not to miss shots" list? I hope you have phenomenal customer service skill and enough Excedrin.

[Dunedan]

Only you can answer that question.

[DonJuanMair]

Your first wedding and you get a "not to miss shots" list? I hope you have phenomenal customer service skill and enough Excedrin.

Lol very true

Only you can answer that question.

I was hoping for some experienced photographers to reply if. I felt I could answer my own question I wouldn't have posted would I ;)

[scubthebub]

Id prefer not to do it if so and them get a more experienced photographer

The other option is getting another POTN member that has experiance to go in on it with you. You can split the cost and take it as a learning experiance.

[gravy graffix]

is it a reasonable list? if its past 10 then id tell her it is a "best effort"... we cant work a day off a shot list, that or you are going to have to have help.

[Dunedan]

I was hoping for some experienced photographers to reply if. I felt I could answer my own question I wouldn't have posted would I ;)

So how can random strangers on the internet know better than you how much is too much for you? We don't know anything about you or how much stress you can handle, etc., regardless of how experienced they are at photography?

[professorman]

I think you should shoot backup as your first wedding. I recently did my first wedding, and even though I did it for free, and I could have gotten to do it by myself, I did not want to "mess up" someone's big day learning for myself. I shot with the guy who shot my wedding (my friend) and it was a really big learning experience. I did miss some of the shots that I didnt want to miss, so I can definately tell you, that everyone needs experience with this. I went to the rehearsal and realized my settings were off, and I had to learn more about my settings to shoot in that chapel. There is a lot you need to know. If you adequately prepare, reading a lot, go to the chapel to take test shots and such. I would try to get someone more experienced to go with me though, so that you do not get a "bad name" even before you start in the industry.

[Wilt]

So I met with the bride and groom yesterday to discuss shooting their wedding. We talked and she's super organized, she has a list of not to miss shots for me and then I asked how many guests. She said 150! The shooting will start at noon and end at 10pm. The thing is this is my first real wedding, so I kind of think its a bit much for my first wedding, does anyone agree?
Id prefer not to do it if so and them get a more experienced photographer


150 shots over a 10 hour day is an insignificant number to a seasoned pro shooter. In the days of film, when one was more restrained with the trigger finger due to film and processing costs, after editing out photos it was common to present 200-250 preview shots. Now, with 'free' digital, it would not be unusual for someone to deliver 400-500 previews...heck two of our daughters were more than overwhelmed by their photographer presenting 2500 and 3000 shots respectively (too, too many!!!)

[Christopher Steven b]

After a brief look at your site you look to be a really solid photographer. I would bet on your delivering great formal shots--and these probably make up a lot of the must-haves. The portions of the wedding during which people are moving, though, well, I have no way of knowing. Things often move more quickly than we can see and it usually comes down to moves initiated by intuition rather than properly cognized calculations. Have you shot an event before?

[EOS_JD]

And although you do look to be a very competent photographer (from the images on your website), your gear looks to be lacking any backup options?

If you have the right gear I'd agree with comments above, get another person to help - someone who is also a solid photographer would help.

Technically, I'm sure you could do it - but being a wedding photographer is as much about people management as it is photography!

[FlyingPhotog]

Anthony, the fact you're even asking tells me you have (significant?) doubts...

I've seen your work and you're a solid technician.

Now you have to ask yourself, can you put the technical stuff on the back burner and get in touch with your "human" side to capture the emotions of the day?

(I'd bet you can...)

[tim]

I would not accept a "do not miss" list. I would accept a reasonably sized list of photos they'd really like, but i'd tell them that circumstances outside of my control or even just being busy and forgetting could prevent me getting one or all of the photos. I would reassure them that i'd do my best, but that there are no guarantees. As for the length that's no issue, all weddings are long.

[Dennis_Hammer]

Someone once said to me "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, your right"

[sapearl]

Absolutely agree with Tim on this one Tony.

Lists to me are a set of guidelines. We do our best to fullfill the stated requirements but often things intefere: bridal party not being ready on time, ceremony starting late, key guests/family missing at the necessary times.... you get the picture.

Now one thing that I strongly recomend. For essential group and family shots, make sure she assigns somebody to you for helping to arrange the uncles, aunts, cousins... in other words all the folks you don't know. "Photographers are poor mind readers" I pleasantly tell my clients, and "we need help in keeping the families straight." Done with charm and tact this gets the job done pleasantly and with relatively little pain.

In my film days (also :D) I would easily deliver 275 - 400 lab proofs in books for that length of time; now it's more). So that figure of 150 is fine as a target, that you will try to deliver on. Again, stress you will do your best.

Only you know if you are up to this; how is your physical stamina, your crowd control ability, your interpersonal skills at managing and directing people. As Jay pointed out, this is the human factors area. All combine into the critical aspects of the wedding day.

I would not accept a "do not miss" list. I would accept a reasonably sized list of photos they'd really like, but i'd tell them that circumstances outside of my control or even just being busy and forgetting could prevent me getting one or all of the photos. I would reassure them that i'd do my best, but that there are no guarantees. As for the length that's no issue, all weddings are long.

[form]

Same as Tim said: I let couples know that I will do my best to get the shots they asked for, but I can't guarantee to get them because there are many variables that occur which may or may not permit time or opportunity to get the shots they listed. I haven't had anyone object to that because it's simple and reasonable. If they are unsure, I can cite examples where this or that was planned but "something came up" and so the shots were not obtainable. That happens with every wedding.

A figure of 150 shots is fine by itself; however, 150 planned, specific shots on a list is not so easy. Most lists I have seen involve 20-50 shots.

Also agree with sapearl about having someone (such as assistant or an important family member or friend of b&g) manage organizing the family/etc. for formals because the photographer is actually one of the least informed persons when it comes to who is related, who they want in the photos, etc.

[DonJuanMair]

thanks everyone for your replies, it was 150 guests that were there not 150 shots she was asking for.
I took on board what everyone said and have told the bride and groom i will not do this one, but thanks everyone for the kind words about my port. So now im going to email a few vegas wedding photogs about being an assistant and then soon i will be able to handle this by myself!